30 Dancer
What is it Like Being a Professional Dancer
On this episode of the Unboxing Careers Podcast, Greg Zakowicz unboxes the career of a dancer and dance studio owner with Lindsey Dinneen.
Guest: Lindsey Dinneen is a professional dancer specializing in classical ballet. After being a practicing ballerina for over a decade, Dinneen become an instructor, studio owner, and consultant for dance studio owners.
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Lindsey Dinneen, a professional dancer, discusses her career path and provides advice for those interested in dance as a career. She details her journey from a young ballet dancer to a multi-faceted career encompassing performance, teaching, studio ownership, and business consulting. Dinneen shares the challenges and rewards of a professional dance career, including the competitiveness of auditions and the financial realities of the profession.
Navigating a Professional Dance Career
While she always knew she wanted dance to be a part of her life, the decision to pursue it professionally came later, around the age of 16 or 17, as she explored college options. During college tours, she realized that dance programs at schools with other majors were often limited to minor or club-like activities. This realization solidified her desire to make dance her primary focus, rather than a sidelined activity.
After making the decision to pursue dance, Dinneen's next goal was to find a path that would provide both a stable income and time for other interests. Unlike some dancers who pursue cruise ship contracts or full-time ballet companies, she sought a balance between professional work and personal life. Lindsey’s big break came when she attended a dance conference in New York City, where she auditioned for multiple companies. After a series of auditions, she landed an apprenticeship with a dance company in Kansas City.
Auditions for dance positions are highly competitive, with many individuals vying for just a few spots. Dinneen emphasizes the need for resilience and understanding that casting decisions are not always personal but rather based on what a director is seeking.
In her first role, Dinneen worked long hours, dancing four days a week and teaching for another four to five hours per day. She also supplemented her income with side jobs, working at a bed and breakfast, demonstrating the need for many dancers to have multiple sources of income. While it is possible for dancers at the highest level, such as those with the New York City Ballet, to make a good living, most dancers need supplemental income.
A Day in the Life of a Professional Dancer
So, what does a typical day look like for a professional dancer? In addition to company work, many dancers also work other jobs to supplement their income. Lindsay taught dance for four to five hours a day, in addition to her own dancing. It is not uncommon to work long hours with late nights, and it is very physical work. Self-care is very important for dancers, including proper rest, good nutrition, and the ability to take time off when injured.
Although some dancers at the highest levels, such as the New York City Ballet, can make a good living, the vast majority of dancers in the United States need to supplement their income. It is beneficial to develop other skill sets that can provide financial stability.
Pivoting to Entrepreneurship and Consulting
After four years with her initial company and a year with another local company, Dinneen had two car accidents that caused her to have back and neck pain, making it difficult to keep dancing in the same way. This led to a pivotal moment where she embraced her desire to start her own professional dance company and become an artistic director.
An invitation to present a show at the Kansas City Fringe Festival spurred her to launch her company in just a few months. This experience made her realize that her true passion lay in directing and choreographing, which allowed her to create movement that would not aggravate her injuries. This led her to transition to consulting for dance studio owners and aspiring dance entrepreneurs. She applies the lessons she learned from starting her own professional company and then her brick and mortar dance studio.
The Realities of Running a Dance Studio
Dinneen's experience with owning a physical dance studio provided valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship in the dance world. She ran the studio for three or four years before COVID hit. She found she was trying to do too much, juggling a full-time job, the dance studio, and the professional company. Ultimately, she decided to close the studio’s physical location, but she transitioned to a smaller home-based studio and smaller classes.
She enjoyed impacting her student's lives through a welcoming and inclusive environment. The most challenging aspect was the business side of things, which involved handling everything from cleaning to networking. Dinneen emphasizes the need for anyone wanting to open a dance studio to view it as a business that needs to be self-sustaining.
Advice for Aspiring Dancers and Studio Owners
Dinneen offers several pieces of advice for those looking to enter the dance industry.
For students: She encourages them to pursue their dreams but also to be open to multiple avenues to achieve them.
For studio owners: Dinneen advises they should acquire business knowledge. She says that basic business skills like accounting, marketing, and understanding legal entities are critical. She suggests community college courses, online resources, and working with a bookkeeper or accountant to help with the business aspects of a studio. She notes there is a lot of free resources available for learning business basics. She also states that if an entrepreneur puts in the work to learn the business side, they will do well.
For dancers: Taking care of oneself through rest, proper nutrition, and seeking medical advice for injuries is paramount for a long career in dance.
General advice: pursuing things that bring joy is an important part of life and the career path one takes.
Dispelling Misconceptions in the Dance World
Dinneen addresses some common misconceptions about the dance industry. She points out that dancers do not have to look a specific way to succeed, and the dance world is becoming more open and accepting of diverse body types. Also, she encourages parents to support their children's pursuit of dance, stating there are many opportunities for dancers, choreographers, and teachers to make a living, especially by building complementary skills to support a dance career.
Takeaways For Those Interested in a Career as a Professional Dancer
The audition process for dance companies is highly competitive.
Many dancers supplement their income with teaching or other jobs.
Self-care is crucial for a sustainable dance career.
Running a dance studio can be rewarding but also challenging.
Business skills are essential for dance studio owners.
There are many avenues to a career in dance beyond performing.
Dancers often have transferable skills that benefit them in business.
The dance industry is becoming more inclusive regarding body types.
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